Saturday, November 13, 2010

The tabloids are full of One Direction shots as this week the X Factor is now down to 9 contestants. One Direction are going to be the next Take That. The act which is voted off always appears in Londons biggest gay club, GAY thanks to an amazing coup by Jeremy Joseph. It does go to show that X Factor considers its gay audience an important sector to back the acts. Sharon Osborne always used to say that boys bands like One Direction should definitely get the gays behind them (although I think she meant it metaphorically not physically).

Erasure's "A Little Respect" in the eighties quickly became an iconic song for the gay community and has been adopted as one of our most played anthems (especially in the RVT). There have been thousands of cover versions (the Almighty Records ones are best) but now Erasure are re-releasing "A Little Respect" with proceeeds going to The Hetrick-Martin Institute (home of the Harvey Milk High School) and Cyndi Lauper's charity the True Colors Fund.
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A Little Respect" comes with a movie style video which was inspired by the bullying incidents occurring recently in the USA. Andy Bell from Erasure felt the need to act - "I am honored and moved beyond words to serve as an Ambassador to the The Hetrick-Martin Institute. Every opportunity we have to spread tolerance and compassion must be seized and I will take special pride in doing so on HMI's behalf."
Erasure's "A Little Respect" is available for download in December and all proceeds are going to the The Hetrick-Martin Institute and the True Colors Fund.

Saturday, November 06, 2010

The fifth Stonewall Awards, hosted by Sue Perkins, were held last night at London's V&A and attended by 450 people including celebrities, politicians, sportspeople and writers. The event celebrates those who have made a positive impact on the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain in the last year.

Chris Grayling Bigot Of The Year

Bigot Of The Year

Former shadow home secretary Chris Grayling was named ‘Bigot of the Year’.
Tory MP Mr Grayling, who was secretly recorded in May saying that bed and breakfasts should have the right to bar gay couples.

Gareth Thomas, Hero Of The Year

Gareth Thomas, Hero Of The Year

Gareth Thomas, who became the first out gay professional rugby player last December, was named ‘Hero of the Year’. He attended the London ceremony with his parents. Some audience members were in tears as he spoke after accepting the award. Mr Thomas said: “I don’t really know what denotes a hero. I’m just myself. But when you live in a world that tries to make different a wrong thing, to me, being a hero is just being honest. He added: “To be a hero, you have to follow in a hero’s footsteps. And there’s people here tonight who’ve been my heroes all my life and will be forever – that’s my mother and father.”

Stella Duffy, joint winner of ‘Writer of the Year’

Stella Duffy, joint winner of ‘Writer of the Year’

Stella Duffy for Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore

Rupert Smith joint winner of ‘Writer of the Year’

Rupert Smith joint winner of ‘Writer of the Year’
Rupert Smith author of MANS WORLD, which is also shortlisted for the inaugral Creen Carnation prize.

Patrick Strudwick, ‘Journalist of the Year’

Patrick Strudwick, ‘Journalist of the Year’
Gay British journalist Patrick Strudwick spent several months investigating gay-to-straight conversion therapy, undergoing "treatment" from two psychotherapists who made no secret of their view that homosexuality was far from natural, but rather a composite of "mental illness, addiction and anti-religious phenomenon". Mr Strudwick, said: “I am dedicating this award to all the victims of hate around the world who have told me their stories. Their strength and dignity spurred me on.”
He also thanked the thousands of people who added their support to his campaign to stamp out the controversial therapy.

John Partridge, Entertainer of the Year

John Partridge, Entertainer of the Year
EastEnders actor John Partidge won the ‘Entertainer of the Year’ award for his gay storyline in the soap. He paid tribute to screenwriter Dominic Treadwell-Collins for managing to “tell a gay story at 7.30 in the evening”.

Martina Navratilova, Sports Person Of The Year

Martina Navratilova, Sports Person Of The Year
Martina Navratilova won huge applause when she was given the sports award. The tennis star is currently in Colorado training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and pre-recorded a message of thanks.

John Bercow, Politician of the Year

John Bercow, Politician of the Year
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow was named ‘Politician of the Year’. The MP, whose wife Sally recently completed a charity parachute jump for Stonewall, praised Mr Summerskill for his “truly inspirational leadership”.

The Times, ‘Publication of the Year’

The Times, ‘Publication of the Year’
The Times won the award for ‘Publication of the Year’

Coronation Street, Broadcast of the Year

Coronation Street, Broadcast of the Year
Corrie which broadcast its first lesbian storyline and first lesbian kiss this year, won the award for ‘Broadcast of the Year’.

There is trouble in the house - the X Factor house that is, between the boys in One Direction.
Inside the house the boys are bitchin and fighting for the mirror. Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zain Malik and Niall Horan have been doing really well with X factor fans, so much so that there is plenty of cat calling and nail scratching over who is the most popular.

There is so much friction in the group. The other boys are jealous that Harry and Liam are getting all the press attention. It’s a real sore point.

Louis [Tomlinson], Niall [Horan] and Zain [Malik] are worried that they aren’t as popular and that no-one knows who they are.

Liam’s mother is adding to the heat by telling him to scratch those other boys eyes out, as he is the most popular. She said this week
“Liam has a very strong following.
“I can’t speak for the other boys, I don’t know about their solo careers, but Liam gigged all over the country so he has both options open really.”

Monday, November 01, 2010

The new season of Glee is well underway here in the UK, but I haven't watched any of them yet! Too busy with holidays and selling the house. Last week we were in Barmouth in Wales in a caravan for a week. It was really cool to get away, but there was NO television reception.
What I missed was the guys from Glee getting their shirts off in their production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. How camp can Glee get?

Matthew Morrison (hot hot hot)

Cory Monteith

Cory doesn't have a hair on his chest AND its getting a bit saggy. You are supposed to be the Quarterback Cory. You need to hit the gym Cory! And get a pair of man bikini briefs.

I havent seen anything of the new sexy blond boy, Chord Overstreet, but he gets his kit off as Rocky.